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Sunday, July 31, 2011

I was enjoying my groovy mani so much, that I almost didn't change my polish today. ALMOST! But then, what kind of obsessive compulsive polisher would I be if I did that!

I picked my new Deborah Lippmann Brick House today. I thought it looked like Essie Alligator Purse with shimmer. I may have to compare them in an upcoming dupe day post to see for sure. This is the second DL polish I've tried recently, and I really don't like the formula at all. You would think for this price, it'd be nicer. It lacks in pigmentation and is runny. Plus DL labeled this as a shimmer, but in my mind, it's closer to a metallic bordering on a frost. I had a really hard time trying to not get brush strokes when applying this.

The final thought I have on this? It's pretty and reminds me of the color of a brand new penny. For me, I could use less of the frost aspect, but it's not a bad color. Plus I mentioned in my last post, that this color may be a dupe for the upcoming Essie color Very Structured, but the Essie I think is a creme. I will definitely be testing my theory as I promised you in that post.

Since I liked the white stamp in my last post, I decided to use it again. I almost used my go to Essie Little Brown Dress, but thought it may be too dark for this mani. Next time though, I'm trying it. I used Bundle Monster plate BM 212 for this.

This pattern reminds me of peacock feathers. Do you see that too? While I like this look, it isn't making me as happy as my groovy green from my last post. Plus I apologize for my sad cuticles. I have no excuse except pure laziness and not enough lotion.

But the cool thing about nail polish? You can take it off and start over if you don't like it. Right?!?

Saturday, July 30, 2011

I woke up this morning and checked my email like I always do. Imagine my surprise when I got an email from American Apparel stating that they found my blog and used one of my pictures in their weekly "Best of seen and submitted, Nailed It" articles. This is pictures of nail art from different bloggers who used American Apparel polishes for their designs. She said she hoped I wouldn't mind that they used my blog for one of the pictures. Wouldn't mind?!?!? Are you insane? To be recognized like that for a company whose polishes I love? I am freaking out here people! You MUST check out this link here. They used my Smurf post pictures.

Isn't that the absolute coolest thing? My little blog! I emailed the lady back, telling her how flattered I am and that if she ever needed anyone to test out new colors of polish, that I was her blogger!

The other thing I want to mention, is that I am 7 followers away from my first giveaway. Check out the giveaway tease on my blog for the details of what's being given away. I haven't figured out how they will be separated into 3 giveaways since I haven't hit 50.

So are you guys freaking out with me about this article? What do you think?

I had a hard time picking what color to wear today. I knew I'd only have it on for one day, so I didn't want to do a new color since I was saving those for longer wear.

I looked and looked over my growing collection. I even spent a lot of time playing with all new backgrounds for my blog. I've run across some new blogs lately, and they really have some cool stuff going on. But alas, that means all the cool stuff is taken! I would see something I liked, and then remember oh yeah so and so is already using that on their blog!

I realized I was wasting time and not quite ready to give my blog it's third overhaul. So I chose a color that I hadn't tried yet. I felt like being loud today, especially when it's 100 degrees outside. My choice is China Glaze Starboard from one of their more recent collections.

This color reminds me of spring and fresh green all over the outside. My yard is certainly not looking so green in this heat lately! It's a true straight on green, the color of new grass. I actually really like it.

The more I looked at this green, the more I was reminded of the 70s. Wasn't this green popular back then? In kitchens, on clothes, it seems to me that this green was everywhere back then. Am I wrong?

So to add to my disco green, I used Bundle Monster plate BM 203 and the special white Konad polish and really made my mani psychedelic.

Can't you just hear Kool and the Gang singing "Jungle Boogie"? The more I look at this, the more I want to wear it and the more I think of kitchen appliances as well! Don't ask me why, it's just the thought that comes to mind.

Regardless of what my crazy mind thinks up, this came out way more awesome then I thought it would. I wish I were wearing it for more than a day!

Plus I wanted to add, that I just saw my first swatches of Essie's new fall collection and I was hasty in my rantings the other day. I have ordered 3 of the 6 colors and they seem to be their own and not dupes. I will show you them when I get them! This does not mean I will stop doing dupe days. There are always dupes to be had!

What do you guys think of this? Am I alone in thinking of the 70s with this? And isn't it a really cool look?

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Ok movie buffs! Don't peek below til you try to remember what movie this title refers to. Got it? Now, if you know the movie, then you know what polish I am wearing right?

You guessed it! I decided to pay homage to a great movie, Pulp Fiction. I am wearing Chanel Vamp. This is the color Uma Thurman wears as Mia Wallace in that movie. I love that movie! Did you guys get it right?

This color is similar to Zoya Anja, but not as dark. You can really see the deep burgundy in this color. I think it's beautiful.

Sunlight

Indoor light

Sunlight

I didn't want to cover up this color and realized that I haven't tried the tip designs in my Bundle Monster plates. I had in mind something lacy and girly but didn't see one that matched my thoughts. So instead I used one of the stripe designs and curved it on my tips. The design is very delicate and it's very cool. I used BM plate 210 and RBL Decorous.

Sunlight

Sunlight

Indoor light

As a side note, I want to bitch about the fall colors coming out next week. Do all the companies get together and say let's all make the same colors? It seems that the OPI Touring America and China Glaze Metro collection have a lot in common. Plus, I just saw the fall Essie colors and man am I pissed! I just spent $$$ on Deborah Lippmann's fall collection and it seems that Essie has put out the same colors but cheaper! Of course, I am only going by pictures, I don't have the polishes in hand yet. So I may be wrong!

DL Brick House is gonna match Essie Very Structured. DL Billionare is a dupe for Essie Power Clutch. And DL Single Ladies seems like Essie Carry On. WTF?!? I feel like I've been had!

I guess that means more Dupe Days ahead- I see at least 3 more after comparing all the fall collections. So if you guys can hold off on your purchases, I promise once I get all these polishes, to do some dupe comparisons to hopefully save you money since mine has already been spent!

The Essies come out 8/1, as well as the China Glaze. And the OPI comes out 8/3. So that gives you a time frame for my dupe days to come-

Let me know if there are some you want me to do, if I have them, I'll add them!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

I have been awarded the Sunshine Award by Pam at Girly Bits! Isn't she awesome?!? I am speechless, honored and never thought when I started this blog that anyone would actually read it besides my mom and brother!

Now on to the Rules I must follow!

1) Thank the person who gave you the award-I sent Pam several emails!! SPAMMED her more like!
2) Write a post about it-here is said post-
3) Answer the questions below-it think these need to have a few added to it!
4) Pass this award on to 10 other bloggers who I feel are worthy and send them a message to let them know.

Questions:

A) Fave color- chocolate brown, with olive khaki green a close second
B) Fave animal- my 2 cats Sam and Checkers of course! Plus my awesomely huge 30gal fish tank
C) Fave number- 10, unless it's Friday the 13th!
D) Perfume I am wearing- Philosophy Unconditional Love
E) Something that identifies me- my flaming red hair, seen from a distance, glows in the dark!
F) What is my passion? Listening to music, horror movies, reading horror books and nail polish, DUH!
G) Would you rather get or give presents- get them, but sometimes if it's a really good gift, giving is better
H) What was the last eyeshadow you wore- Urban Decay Naked Palette (jinx to Pam-Girly Bits)
I) Favorite day of the week- Wednesday, cause that's the day Hair Dye Day falls on!
J) Are your nails painted now? Is this a serious question? Is the Pope Catholic? Yes they are always painted-naked nails suck.

And now on to the 10 blogs I am passing this award on to are: drum roll please-

I know #9 and #10 have probably won tons of awards-but come on people, they are the two that started it all. Without them, the rest of us wouldn't even be blogging! And Chloe's Nails because she was the first to sign up for my blog and her designs are freaking awesome. And yes because I am a rule breaker, I went past the 10 blogs and named 12! I couldn't narrow it down!

I am so glad that there are people out there who really like my blog. It makes me very happy and glad that I started this blog in the first place. Thank you guys!!

Monday, July 25, 2011

By the time you read this post, I will have already had my awesome workspace with private bathroom reduced to a cubicle farm amongst many others. I decided my mani today would reflect my mourning of my office loss. It may seem silly to you, but for two years, I have enjoyed my own office, my own bathroom and a large desk with plenty of room to work. Now I am part of a cubicle, half the desk space and no more bathroom. I am very sad.

I thought I'd also share why I go by Fingers on this blog. It was my high school nickname. I am a classically trained pianist. I wanted to be Liberace when I grew up. I played for the choirs, was in all the bands and played piano any time and any place I could. Hence the nickname, Fingers. When I started this blog, I decided to reprise the name.

Of course, I didn't grow up to be Liberace. Things happen and dreams change. I decided after years of drifting to become an RN. I have been an RN for 15 years now. I have seen and done it all. Nowadays, I work with lung cancer patients. I really hope I am making a difference in their lives.

This blog is something that I use to vent, tell you my thoughts, show off what colors I like on my nails and hope that someone out there wants to try some design I've done. I like to see what others are doing on their blogs too.

Anyway, this design starts with another Zoya fall color. This one is Cynthia. It is a very dark blackened blue. It is hard to see the blue unless you are in the sun. So I will show you indoor and outdoor pictures.

Outdoors

Indoors

Outdoors

Indoors

I think this is a beautiful color. I want to just wear it as is. I will do that later this week. But for today and my office mourning, we are rebelling against the man! So I used Essie Blanc and Bundle Monster plate BM 211.

Maybe I should have done the skulls the other way around, but then it'd be upside down for me!! Lastly, I took the same Essie and added my Funky French touch and voila!

I need to work on my scotch tape method. My lines are definitely not straight. But I think this is a pretty cool mani. I just hope my boss doesn't see and I get in trouble! Keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep mine hid when she's around!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

I wanted to let you guys in on a secret. When my blog hits 50 followers, I will be having an amazing giveaway. I realize I have a ways to go-but I am a type A hardcore personality and just know I will get there. The first giveaway will be at 50 followers, the second at 200 followers, the third at 300! So the faster I get to 50, the faster my giveaway will commence.

I haven't figured out how I am going to split up the polishes into three groups, so the picture is just random to show you what I am offering. Complete details are in my tab line below my blog title.

I'm sitting here watching the first remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" with Donald Sutherland and trying to figure out what to write for this post. This movie was made in 1978 and it's funny to see the fashion then.

I love horror movies. They make me laugh. My favorite at the moment is "Paranormal Activity". That movie actually scared the bejesus out of me. Then they had to ruin it with part two. Not scary, just plain stupid. I'm told that part three coming in October has the original team back so maybe it'll scare me like the first one did.

I live for sequels, prequels etc. But they must follow the story line. Nothing makes me more mad then not following the story line. Don't just make a random movie because the first one was great!

This has nothing to do with nail polish of course, but I felt like sharing today. I am continuing on with Zoya's fall collection. Today I am wearing Petra. This is a dark purple gray creme. In the bottle, the color appears to have more purple in it, but on you see the gray. I haven't decided yet if I like it or not.

Then I added my flowery touch with Bundle Monster plate BM 224. I used Zoya Dove for the stamping. That color is a true light gray. I think they look awesome together. On the left hand I used one flower design, the right the other flower design but on the same plate. I like the right hand's design better.

I wanted to add one last touch so I made it into a Funky French. I really like this completed look, don't you?

What do you think? Is this more purple or more gray? And what is your favorite scary movie?

Friday, July 22, 2011

Back by popular demand, here is my second installment of Dupe day. I have to say though, that I was very disappointed with these. It's freaky that even though colors look the same in the bottles, they can be very different on the nail.

These are all done with two coats, no base or top coat. This stains the crap out of my nails but I do it for you, my fans!

First up is the challenge between Deborah Lippmann I know What Boys Like and American Apparel Mount Royal. I had mentioned these may be dupes in a previous post. They look the same in the bottle, but the AA is somewhat darker on the nail. Also, the formula is so much better with the AA. The DL lacks pigmentation and needs more layers.

Next up, I did some reds. I had seen that someone searched for a dupe for Deborah Lippmann My Old Flame after my Smurf post. So I wanted to oblige that person. Now in these pictures, I DON'T have dirt under my nails. It's actually polish from doing these dupes. I should have done the lighter colors first!!!

Anyway, this duel is between three colors. DL My Old Flame, Rescue Beauty Lounge Chinoise and Essie Forever Young. After I had done this post, I realized that China Glaze Phat Santa may be a contender, but it looks darker in the bottle. After comparing these, I think the Essie is pretty close to the DL. The RBL seems to have a bit more orange to it.

And finally, the battle of the greens. In this I pitted the new Zoya Dree versus Chanel Khaki Vert. These turned out to be two different colors that are similar in the bottle as well. The Zoya has more olive to it and is darker than the Chanel.

I hope you have enjoyed the sequel to my Dupe Day. I am working on the trilogy! Are you enjoying these kinds of posts?

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I am continuing on with my new fall colors from Zoya. Today I wanted to try something new. The idea came from Erika at Chloe's Nails. She is the mastermind of the Funky French and many other cool designs. I had told her that I would try her designs just not with her pink!

I started with Zoya Dree which at first I thought would be similar to Gemma but without the shimmer, but this seems darker and more olivey. (Is that a word?). It may be similar to Chanel Khaki Vert so I am adding these to my duplicate day posts coming up.

Here it is before I added anything. It's a true olive khaki creme that reminds me of army colors. I think it's pretty, and I can never have too many green polishes!

Then I grabbed my trusty Essie Little Brown Dress and stamped the design using Bundle Monster plate BM 203. Here are the pics of this step. I thought it would show up darker than it did. I tried several times but this is what I ended up with.

After waiting for that to dry, I then used Erika's scotch tape method to do my tips. I was afraid the tape would pull off the design, but it really only affected one nail. I was nervous about that. So I then topped it all off with my normal Seche Vite and this is the end design. I think it came out a lot better than my first try with the tape. Note to self, tear the tape off first for all your nails so you aren't trying to rip tape with wet tips.

I'm sure with more practice, I'll get faster at it as well. This took me a long time to do. What do you think? Do you guys like this? I think it's pretty cool. Something I will definately do again.